Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association is a vibrant community of Columbia University graduates who have gone on to become leaders in the field of medicine, including Stanford University-affiliated Lucile Packard Children's Hospital pediatric surgery specialist Michael R. Harrison. The association has a long history of supporting its members and promoting excellence in medical education at institutions like Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins University. With a strong network of alumni, including National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and University of California, San Francisco Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, the association provides opportunities for connection, professional development, and community engagement, often in collaboration with organizations like the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society. The association's activities are guided by its mission to foster a sense of community and shared purpose among its members, who have attended or worked at institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Health System.

● History

The history of the association dates back to the founding of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1767, when it was known as the King's College Medical School, and has since been shaped by the contributions of notable alumni like Benjamin Rush, a University of Edinburgh-educated physician and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Over the years, the association has evolved to meet the changing needs of its members, who have gone on to work at institutions like NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Today, the association is a thriving community of over 20,000 alumni, including David Ho, a California Institute of Technology-educated HIV researcher and Time Magazine's 1996 Person of the Year, and Eric Kandel, a Columbia University-affiliated Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine. The association's history is closely tied to that of Columbia University, which has been affiliated with numerous notable institutions, including Barnard College, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Union Theological Seminary.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the association is to promote excellence in medicine and to foster a sense of community and shared purpose among its members, who have attended or worked at institutions like Duke University School of Medicine and University of California, Los Angeles. The association's objectives include providing opportunities for professional development, supporting medical research at institutions like National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and promoting public health initiatives, often in collaboration with organizations like the World Health Organization and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The association also seeks to recognize and celebrate the achievements of its members, including Rosalyn Yalow, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-educated medical physicist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and Barbara McClintock, a Cornell University-affiliated geneticist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine. To achieve its objectives, the association partners with organizations like the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Institute of Medicine.

● Governance_and_Leadership

The association is governed by a board of directors composed of alumni volunteers, including Harvard University-affiliated physician and health policy expert David Blumenthal, and University of California, San Francisco-affiliated physician and medical educator Haile Debas. The board is responsible for setting the association's strategic direction and overseeing its operations, which are often informed by the work of institutions like the National Academy of Medicine and American Association for the Advancement of Science. The association's leadership includes a president, vice president, and executive director, who work together to implement the association's mission and objectives, often in collaboration with organizations like the Association of American Universities and Council of Graduate Schools. The association also has a number of committees and task forces that focus on specific areas, such as membership, programming, and development, and often work with institutions like Stanford University School of Medicine and University of Michigan Health System.

● Alumni_Network

The association's alumni network is a vibrant community of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons graduates, including Jonas Salk, a University of Pittsburgh-affiliated virologist and developer of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, and Alfred Lerner, a Columbia University-educated physician and businessman who has worked with institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. The network provides opportunities for connection, mentorship, and professional development, often through events and programs hosted by institutions like New York Academy of Medicine and American Museum of Natural History. Alumni can connect with one another through the association's online directory, social media groups, and regional chapters, which often partner with organizations like the American Medical Association and American College of Physicians. The association also offers a range of benefits and services to its members, including career counseling, continuing medical education, and insurance discounts, often in collaboration with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology.

● Events_and_Programs

The association hosts a range of events and programs throughout the year, including reunions, conferences, and workshops, often in collaboration with institutions like University of California, Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University. These events provide opportunities for alumni to connect with one another, learn about the latest developments in medicine, and engage with the broader Columbia University community, which includes institutions like Barnard College and Teachers College, Columbia University. The association also offers a range of awards and scholarships to recognize and support the achievements of its members, including the Gold Medal Award and the Distinguished Service Award, which have been awarded to notable alumni like Herbert Pardes, a Columbia University-affiliated psychiatrist and healthcare executive, and Lee Goldman, a Columbia University-affiliated physician and health policy expert.

● Notable_Alumni

The association has a long history of producing notable alumni, including Nobel laureates like Baruch Blumberg, a Columbia University-affiliated physician and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and Andrew Schally, a Columbia University-educated endocrinologist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine. Other notable alumni include Joshua Lederberg, a Columbia University-affiliated molecular biologist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and Eric Wieschaus, a Columbia University-educated developmental biologist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine. The association's alumni have gone on to become leaders in a range of fields, including medicine, science, and public health, and have worked at institutions like National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Health Organization. Notable alumni also include Robert Furchgott, a Columbia University-affiliated biochemist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and Louis Ignarro, a Columbia University-educated pharmacologist and Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine and have been recognized by organizations like the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

Category:Alumni associations